Experiencing sexual abuse often leaves victims feeling violated, hopeless, and unsure of what to do about it. Many things could dissuade sexual abuse victims from filing charges after abuse.
Many people do not realize that an alternative allows them to pursue justice. Victims can still hold their abuser accountable through a personal injury case. Compassionate legal help is available at Dolman Law Group.
An Orlando sexual abuse lawyer will hold all the details of your experience in the strictest confidence as we make a plan to protect your rights, safety, and dignity. We offer free consultations to discuss your case.
How Can a Civil Court Case Help Me if I've Been Sexually Abused?
Filing a lawsuit against the perpetrator or liable party allows you to hold the perpetrator accountable for their harmful actions. This can provide closure and healing. Receiving a judgment award indicating a perpetrator's guilt can be deeply validating.
Compensation Can Help Bring You Closure in Your Orlando Sexual Abuse Case
Financial compensation is a tangible affirmation of your experience. However, it can go a long way in making you feel whole. Compensation can cover economic damages such as:
- Medical treatment
- Time off from work
- Medical supplies and equipment
- Professional mental health treatment
Your injuries may also entitle you to compensation for pain and suffering, including emotional and psychological pain and suffering such as:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Fear
- Insomnia
- Grief
- Psychological trauma
- Diminished quality of life
- Loss or damage to reputation
- Cognitive or behavior shifts
- Anxiety
- Depression
In some cases, your sexual abuse lawyer could collect punitive damages designed to punish the Orlando perpetrator or negligent party for their horrible actions.
How Can I Recognize Sexual Abuse?
Sexual abuse can be defined as sexual activity or behavior inflicted upon another person through force or simply without their consent. Sometimes used interchangeably with the terms "sexual assault" or "sexual violence," it can include physical acts and non-physical acts and can go unrealized until much later.
This is common when children are sexually abused. They may not realize that they were abused, only that they experienced something that didn't feel right. You might also want to know more about what qualifies as sexual abuse if you're worried about an elderly loved one in a nursing home.
Types of Sexual Abuse
It's important to understand the behaviors that constitute sexual abuse. If they've experienced them repeatedly, some victims may assume the harmful behaviors are normal. Others may feel that they invited those behaviors, they deserved them, or could have prevented them. Sexual acts are never acceptable if you did not consent or were not mentally able to consent.
Examples of sexual abuse can include:
Verbal Sexual Assault
Making sexual comments or using words to express sexual content that makes another person uncomfortable, ashamed, or afraid is a form of sexual abuse.
Exposure to Obscene Material
It is against the law to show a child sexually explicit or harmful images, videos, presentations, or exhibitions. This includes nudity, sexual excitement, sexual conduct, sexual battery, or abuse, per Florida Statutes § 847.013.
Indecent Exposure
Exposing one's genitals in public or in private in a vulgar or indecent manner is abusive and illegal under Florida statute Florida Statutes § 800.03. Exposure is often done with the intent of sexual gratification when abuse is involved.
Inappropriate Touching
Fondling, groping, rubbing, or any other lingering or sexual touch that is performed nonconsensually is not ok. Inappropriate touching can escalate into other forms of sexual abuse.
Pornography
Creating pornography with minors is a crime. This includes sexual photos and videos. It is also illegal to distribute this pornographic material.
Rape
Sexual penetration of any kind by another person without consent, whether through force or restraint, is a felony in Florida, per Florida Statutes § 794.011.
Sexual Abuse Is a Traumatic Experience
Sexual abuse victims potentially face a life-altering and longstanding injuries. Victims must also contend with emotional and psychological injuries due to trauma.
Common Injuries From Sexual Assault
Certain injuries may not become apparent until months or years down the line. Sexual abuse injuries may include:
- Depression
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Sexually transmitted diseases
- Anxiety
- Pregnancy
- Bruises, cuts, lacerations, abrasions other tears to the tissue
- Mouth injuries
- Eye injuries
- Force injuries of the genitals
- Restraint injuries
- Soreness or swelling of body parts
- Other emotional and psychological harm
Seek Medical and Psychological Treatment To Help You Recover
In addition to medical assistance, victims may also require professional help for the emotional, psychological, and behavioral changes that occur after abuse. These injuries should never be swept under the rug.
Receiving Medical Help Is Important
You should see a doctor right away if you suffered any physical harm. Seeking medical treatment right away is especially important to test for or prevent sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy.
Mental Health Treatment Helps You Regain Your Life
Professional psychological help may help victims of sexual abuse in Orlando process the trauma of the events and work toward repairing the damage they caused. Fear of intimacy or human touch, being withdrawn, fearful, heightened alert, difficulty sleeping, and heightened emotional responses are just some of the problems a professional treatment may help you overcome.
An Orlando personal injury attorney at our law office will support you in obtaining the medical treatment and mental health support you need to heal your body and mind. Turn to us when pursuing a sexual abuse lawsuit.
You Can Trust Dolman Law Group With Your Case
We understand the sensitive nature of your case. Our staff hopes you will trust us to help bring you justice and a sense of closure to this traumatic time in your life. An Orlando sexual abuse law firm is here to offer you compassionate and confidential legal relief. Call (727) 451-6900 today.
Orlando Office
1701 Park Center Drive, Suite #240-G
Orlando, FL 32835
Phone: (407) 759-4565